The Moss-Free Stone

I had the opportunity to share some Web 2.0 information with the great faculty of Richland Middle School today. This is a good group of teachers who are becoming very proficient at the use of technology. The next step is to move beyond the basic skills and move into using the tools to teach more effectively and to enable students to create meaningful, motivating products.

I used a Classroom Performance System to test the staff’s knowledge, then gave a general overview of Web 2.0. Most scored a…well…subpar grade on the quizzes, at least by their own standards. However, I hope most were encouraged by the fact that they were not complete strangers to the concept by any stretch. Prior to starting the Web 2.0 discussion, I made reference to the fact that simply creating Word documents and slideshows was not enough, and that the tools for making technology-rich, meaningful content were available and easy to get started with. I also stated that teaching in the same manner as it was done 25 years ago wasn’t good enough, and that anyone insisting on doing so ought to look for another occupation. (This is but the latest example of my penchant to talk first, moderate later, especially when I am excited/passionate about something.) I clarified, saying that the state of Texas requires technology to be utilized, and that, most importantly, society requires many tech skills to become a thriving citizen. The old style of teaching suited the “old” society (Ironically, I kept referring to the Internet of 3 or 4 years ago as “old”–never ceases to amaze me how rapidly change is happening!). Kids of the “new” age get excited about learning when it is on the cutting edge, because they spend their lives away from school there.

The overview of web 2.0 included only a brief mention of most tools, including filesharing, social bookmarking, social networks, podcasting, and productivity tools. The greater focus was on three tools that, I feel, are best suited for immediate use by the students and staff here: blogs and wikis. I also focused on RSS/XML, as this is the icing on the proverbial cake, with regards to blogging and creating wikis. I wanted to give an introduction to feed readers, which are a convenience very few, if any, of our district’s teachers are taking advantage of. They need to, too, because they can then function as the messengers to their constituents: parents and students. As I mentioned in Educating Parents, it is critical, in my opinion, that parents be taught RSS, because they simply are not utilizing it, which limits the effectiveness of blogs, wikis, podcasts, etc. Proficient teachers can pass along their knowledge to students, who, in turn, can show parents how this tool works. Then the blogs and wikis and podcasts will truly take off!

I got some good, positive responses today, and have a few teachers on board to begin blogging next week. I’m fired up!